UK Investments
Article Index
Nationalizing Northern Rock
By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor After a five-month search to find a private buyer for Northern Rock PLC (PINK: NHRKF), the U.K. government has decided to nationalize the struggling bank. The law that would grant sweeping powers to the government to place troubled financial institutions under state control is currently being debated in the House […]
U.K. Prime Minister Acknowledges Tough Year Ahead
By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor British Prime Minister Gordon Brown used his New Year's address to offer a painfully honest appraisal of the United Kingdom's economic prospects for 2008. And as a former Chancellor of the Exchequer [equivalent to the United States' Secretary of the Treasury] for 10 years under Tony Blair, Brown knows what […]
U.K. Markets Mirror U.S. Woes
By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor London stocks plunged yesterday (Monday) following Wall Street's lead from Friday. The sell-off crossed all industries with only a handful of stocks in the FTSE 100 Index showing gains for the day as the index fell 1.9% for the day. After U.S. Consumer Price Index data was released on Friday, […]
Virgin Group Wins Government Approval to Buy Northern Rock; Some Shareholders Peeved
By Mike Caggeso Associate Editor Virgin Group Ltd., and a team of investors, have won British government approval to buy troubled lender Northern Rock PLC (PINK: NHRKF), sending the embattled bank's U.K.-listed shares up more than 28% in trading yesterday (Monday). In a statement released by Northern Rock, Virgin's proposal will immediately repay $22.7 billion […]
U.K. Home Prices, Economy Both Headed for a Fall, Economists Predict
By Mike Caggeso Associate Editor The U.K. housing market is slowing, and housing prices could actually decline next year, according to analyst forecasts and the latest batch of government economic reports. United Kingdom housing prices actually rose 0.3%, a slowdown from the 0.5% advance in August and the scorching 2% leap in July. Also, the […]
The Two Ways the Global Shipping Sector Can Deliver Bulk Investment Profits
One shipping company's stock is up 588% percent year-to-date. Another is up 149%. A special report developed jointly by Eoin Gleeson at our U.K. affiliate, MoneyWeek Magazine, and Money Morning Associate Editor Mike Caggeso, explains why the maritime shipping industry is about to get bigger and deliver more profits to investors. Shipping stocks have soared […]
How to Get "Asian-Sized" Returns in Europe
By Martin Hutchinson Director of Global Investing Research Free-market U.S. conservatives like to talk about "old Europe." They tell stories about the sclerotic EU bureaucracy, the intransigent French unions, and the rigid German banking system. Problem is, they ignore the really interesting Europe. The Europe that is growing rapidly. The Europe with soaring productivity, low […]
Carlsberg, Heineken Eye Scottish & Newcastle
By Jason Simpkins Staff Writer Heineken NV (HINKY.PK) has entered into talks with Carlsberg A/S (CABHF.PK) regarding a joint takeover bid for Scottish & Newcastle PLC. The two companies have not made any formal approach, but have said any takeover offer would be in cash. The unexpected announcement came in a joint statement released Wednesday, […]
U.S. Market Update: Earnings Start, Deals Continue, Fed Minutes Upbeat…
The almighty consumer accounts for two-thirds of the economy's growth (or, at least, that's what the "experts" always claim). Well, last week, they received some pretty mixed signals about consumer activity: past, present, and future. While the world's top retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), surprisingly increased its earnings forecast for the third quarter, few others […]
Thirsty for Profits? Ten Ways to Play the Worldwide Beer Market
By Martin Hutchinson Director of Global Investing Research SAB Miller PLC (SBMRY) and Molson Coors Brewing Co. (TAP) agreed on Tuesday to merge their U.S. brewing operations, creating a worthy rival for Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. (BUD). The deal also highlights the fact that – pretty well throughout the world (well, may be not in Moslem […]
Northern Rock Buys Time Before Getting Bought Out
From Staff Reports Citigroup Inc. (C) is preparing to lend Northern Rock PLC – the United Kingdom bank bailed out by the Bank of England – $20.4 billion so it can buy time for a buyout, according to news reports from both Bloomberg News and the Financial Times. Northern Rock desperately needs to refinance 14 […]
Four Ways to Profit as China Ignites Global Milk and Dairy Prices
By Mike Caggeso Staff Writer China's ever-growing middle class has driven up the average price of milk around the world, upsetting everyday grocery shoppers but also providing deft investors with opportunities to profit. The newfound demand from the Far East has also raised the incomes of dairy farmers and changed the way milk – once […]
CRH eyes possible $4.5 billion buyout of Cemex operations
From Staff Reports Dublin-based CRH PLC (CRH) is eyeing a possible $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion acquisition of Cemex SAB's (CX) concrete plants, cement division and pipe-making unit, the companies announced yesterday (Monday). For CRH, the world's second-biggest maker of building materials, it's all about timing. The majority of the assets that the Monterrey, Mexico-based […]
UK Central Bank Raises Rates; ECB Stands Pat
The Bank of England boosted its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 5.75% on Thursday - the fifth increase in under a year